November 26, 2008 Edition

Return of 39th begins

The 39th Brigade is scheduled to begin its departure from Iraq with the first wave of the brigade's 3,200 soldiers scheduled to arrive tonight (Wednesday) at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Miss.

Approximately 160 Soldiers with the El Dorado and Crossett based Troop A, 151st Cavalry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard will be the first of the brigade to return from an eight month deployment to Iraq.

The 39th is comprised of 46 units from 42 communities across the state. The remainder of the brigade is currently scheduled to return in several waves throughout the month of December. This will include the unit from Lawrence County.

The Arkansas National Guard has established a Family Support Hotline, which will provide a recorded voice announcing the current schedule for the incoming flight. Families can call the hotline at 501-212-8000. They will need to know the specific unit their soldier is returning with. The recording will only be updated twice daily, in the morning and the afternoon, due to multiple potential timeline shifts.